How landmark Supreme Court ruling clarifies liability and limitation on building safety

Theresa mohammed bw 2018

Construction professionals must now operate with heightened awareness of their long-term liabilities, in the wake of the pivotal ruling in the Barratt Homes case

The UK Supreme Court has delivered a pivotal judgment in URS Corporation Ltd vs BDW Trading Ltd [2025] UKSC 21, significantly reshaping liability exposure for contractors, consultants and developers involved in residential and mixed-use developments. The ruling, which follows post-Grenfell safety reforms, confirms that URS is liable for structural design defects discovered by BDW in two high-rise developments, despite BDW no longer owning the properties or facing formal claims.ams

In a landmark ruling with far-reaching implications for the UK construction industry, the Supreme Court has clarified the scope of liability for construction professionals and the retrospective application of limitation periods under the ºÚ¶´ÉçÇø Safety Act 2022 (BSA).

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